One of the incredible things about researching a topic is the interesting tangents you can encounter along your research expedition. In a previous blog, I mentioned that I had been doing some research on a field of my youth, a softball field located on Quonset Point, RI. A field that I played on when I was 19 years old, so like 10 years ago (ha ha ha). The summer of 1991, I was manning the outfield in a roving position for Al Southwick and the Tucker Seafood Mens Softball Team at Quonset Point. I researched the location, got in contact with trusted resources like the Providence College Archives and Special Collections team, and the North Kingstown Town Library. Here are my findings – Quonset Point Softball Field.
I mentioned tangents the other day. Oh boy, did I get off on a few tangents this week by using certain keywords in the Google Search box. First, I found an auction item with a photograph of the Quonset Flyers based in (you guessed it) U.S. Naval Air Station, Quonset Point, RI. The auction website link is here – Quonset Flyer photo – and it includes the photo and a handwritten letter to “Ed” from Flyers Manager Chief Ray “Fido” Murphy. In the letter, Murphy outlines the Flyers season including wins over the Philadelphia A’s and the West Haven, CT Sailors. At the time of the letter, the Flyers were 50-16 and had two more games remaining. Murphy goes on to tell “Ed” that he is moving to Topeka, KS and purchased a minor league team and ballpark. More on that later, but first let me proudly introduce the men in the photo as well as the young man sitting in front of the team, as described by Manager Ray Murphy in his letter. Baseball fans of all ages, I give you the Quonset Flyers:
Front Row: Left to Right
- Ed Pullins (2B, Co-Captain)
- Jim Patlyek (Catcher)
- Bob Hegwood (Pitcher)
- Chief Ray “Fido” Murphy (Manager)
- Art Shaughnessy (#B)
- Lefty Mildenberger (Pitcher)
- Al Mills (Catcher)
- Peter Shellenberger – Team Mascot, Bat Boy (I’m guessing)
Back Row: Left to Right
- Bill Frazier (Utility player)
- Walter Helwig (Pitcher)
- Eddie Bart (Outfield)
- John Patrick (Pitcher)
- Stan Slaktowicz (Catcher)
- Paul Spennrath (1B, Co-Captain)
- George Solomon (Pitcher)
- Art Priebe (Shortstop)
- Felix Wendelschaefer (Outfield)
- Larry Bradley (2B)
- Frank Rabezak (Pitcher)
- Dick Gionovsky (Outfield)
I mentioned the Topeka Owls Baseball organization earlier and found this photo on Pinterest, featuring several Quonset Flyers players and Manager Ray “Fido” Murphy:
What an incredible photo, what an incredible find, what an incredible baseball team – the Quonset Flyers. Are any of these Flyers still living? Could a relative have a baseball or glove or newspaper clipping about a game? That is what I intend to discover, respectfully. More on this later…
Now, at one point, Quonset Point NAS had a thriving array of baseball, softball, and recreational facilities. Courtesy of the PC Archives group, here is an amazing photo of a fair taking place on the runway at Quonset. And if you look over to the right, there is a set of fields for baseball and softball.
And here is another spectacular photo of the Navy Exchange Building and there behind the building (About 1 o’clock) is the outline of another baseball field.
Thanks to a tip from the North Kingstown Town Library, I was able to use an aerial map website to find other fields from certain years passed. It appears that at one point, there was a thriving baseball and softball community there on Quonset Point. By my count, I recognized about 10 fields throughout the base. Here are some photos I found of baseball and softball fields around the Naval Air Station:
I mentioned tangents earlier. Wow, from researching a single field I played on some 30 plus years ago to researching a series of fields in the 1960s and1970s to finding a baseball team that played in the 1940s – now that my friends is the definition of research tangentitus. Now, for the final discovery in my research. Going back to the photo of the Quonset Flyers, 3 players from the left, I noticed a ball player (whom I now know to be Bob Hegwood) who looked sort of like Boston Red Sox Hall of Famer Ted Williams. I did a quick Google search of “Ted Williams Quonset Point Flyers” and came up with this photo featuring Willams, Hugh Mulcahy, and one Bob Feller, sporting a Quonset Naval Air Station Uniform:
The website link is here – Ted Williams and players – and a further description reads, “Red Sox left fielder Ted Williams (in civvies) embraces former major league pitchers Hugh Mulcahy and Bob Feller prior to an exhibition game at Fenway Park.” Hall of Fame Pitcher Bob Feller, right there in a Quonset Naval Air Station uniform at Fenway Park. Wow, tangentitus is fun!!!
Of course, the internet has exponentially sped up my research on Quonset Naval Air Station’s baseball life and community. I love looking at these historic photos and reading about games and players and teams that once played there. What an incredible treasure trove of photos!
Going back once more to the Quonset Flyers, if you have any knowledge of players, memorabilia, a baseball signed, a baseball used in a game, a scorecard, a glove, a memory from a fan or a player, please contact me. I would love to speak to you about the Quonset Flyers Baseball Team.
The Rhiter 
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